Arrest made in July murder of grandmother and granddaughter in Middle River, suspect tied to separate murder

BALTIMORE -- Police have arrested a man for the Middle River double murder of a grandmother and granddaughter in July, according to the Baltimore County Police Department. Bryan Cherry, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder.

On Sunday, July 7, Baltimore County Officers found 75-year-old Iona Sellers and 29-year-old Autumn Harvey dead after a "check location" call. The pair had been living together at a home on Taos Circle.

Both had apparent blunt-force trauma to their upper bodies, according to police.

Cherry is currently being held without bail at Baltimore County Detention Center.

"We're going to take this all the way and not going to stop until he's locked up for good," Devin Harney, Autumn's cousin said.

Harvey moved in with her grandmother after the death of her grandfather a few years ago.

The family of the victims said seeing the accused face behind the crime has brought the first sense of justice in more than a month.

"I feel like today it's hit me harder than it has the entire time," Devin said.

A bond as solid as siblings, Devin says a wave of relief came crashing over after learning 36-year-old Bryan Cherry was charged in connection to the case on Taos Circle.

"Ultimately, I'm so relieved and happy that we have a chance to get justice," Devin said.

Devin described her as a kind person with a contagious laugh in July. "She was a little bit shy, but once you got to know her... she was just awesome," he said.

History of Violence

The suspect is no stranger to law enforcement with a lengthy, violent criminal history.

Baltimore County Police Detective Trae Corbin said DNA evidence would help link Cherry to their investigation.

"Baltimore City has a separate investigation for a homicide that he was arrested for on July 14," Corbin said. "Once we got our DNA hit, we were able to match that through the system to see this person was already incarcerated for a separate crime."

The Baltimore City Police Department confirmed the victim in the July 14 case was 38-year-old Sierra Johnson.

Just before 9 a.m., officers went to investigate at the 800 block of Abbott Court.

Johnson was found dead with trauma to the head, according to investigators.

While at the scene, police found Cherry nearby in the 1300 block of Homewood Avenue and arrested him.

The suspect is accused of physically assaulting Johnson, which resulted in her death, police said.

Cherry has been in jail without bond pending trial for Johnson's case since then.

However, a bail hearing for Cherry is scheduled on Friday for the county's homicide case.

In both jurisdictions, Cherry faces first-degree homicide charges.